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Pro Advice About Home Buying for First-Timers


Today, Jay Rodriguez from New American Funding is here to give new homebuyers a few tips for how to set themselves up for success when entering the market.

Today’s guest is Jay Rodriguez from New American Funding. This past weekend we were talking when I had millennial buyers come in that got me thinking: What are the steps and tips that new homebuyers should know when they’re looking to enter the market?

Jay’s first point is to actually examine where your money is going and start saving. We live in a cashless society nowadays, so be sure that you’re keeping track of your money. There are apps that you can download that will help manage and track your expenditures, which will come in handy if you want to keep an eye on your funds.

The more money you’re able to contribute to your home purchase, the less financing you’ll need, meaning that your monthly payments will be lower. You’ll be more likely to qualify for a loan and you’ll happier with your monthly payment situation.

Further to that, pay attention to your credit. There are programs that will accept a credit score as low as 580, but the higher your credit is, the better off you’ll be in terms of what financing you have access to.

You should be speaking with a credit specialist as soon as possible in the home buying process. You need to find out what, if any, issues your credit has so that you can repair it if necessary.

You should be speaking with a credit specialist as soon as possible in the home buying process.

Apps like Credit Karma and certain credit unions will send you your credit report, but many people don’t realize that there are many different versions of your score. In the mortgage game, we’re stuck with a model that hasn’t been updated since 2009. Also, if you have medical debts or similar collections, those will be viewable on a completely different report from the one that’s pulled by Credit Karma.

Jay’s first step to beginning the home buying process is to speak with an agent you trust and like. They need to be an expert in the market and know the area you’re looking to buy a home in.

He also recommends attending open houses, which are free. These allow you to see the neighborhood and imagine yourself living there.

Finally, get yourself a lender. New American Funding is licensed in all 48 states of the continental U.S. and would be happy to hear from you. Call (949) 214-2810 to set up a consultation.

If you have any questions about real estate in Southern California, please reach out to my team. We’d love to help you.
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Location: Orange County, CA, USA

What Are the Top 6 Things Kids Desire in a Home?


Are you curious what kids really want in a home? Here’s your answer.

The Harris Poll recently conducted a survey where they asked kids under the age of 18 whose parents were purchasing a property what they look for in a home. Here were the top six answers:

1. To have their own room. 57% of the children polled wanted their own room and to not have to share with a sibling.

2. A large backyard. 34% wanted a place where they could play and have friends over.

3. Proximity to a park. 25% wanted to live within walking distance to a park.

Most of all, kids wanted their own room.

4. Closeness to school. 24% wanted to be closer to a school so that they wouldn’t have to ride a bus—they’d rather get dropped off by their parents or ride a bike or skateboard to school.

5. Being closer to friends. 24% didn’t want to have to rely on their parents to drop them off at friends' homes.

6. A swimming pool. 21% wanted their home to have a swimming pool or at least have access to an HOA pool for when summertime hits.

If you have any questions about how these findings affect you as a buyer or seller or you have any other real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.
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Location: Orange County, CA, USA

What Renovations Will Bring You the Greatest Return on Investment?


What are the best ways to boost your home’s value before selling? We’re looking at the top four today.

Today I wanted to share the top four home renovations that will maximize your return on investment when it comes time to sell. The list comes from HGTV and gives you a good idea of what is going to be worth your while:

1. Minor bathroom renovations. Putting in a new vanity, a new toilet, mirror, or repainting are all good ideas. Something like this won’t cost much, but could bring you a return of over 100%.

2. Updating your landscaping. A big trend right now is synthetic grass. It’s a bit costly at the beginning, but it’s much more practical for buyers looking for lower water costs. It’s the first thing buyers will see when they visit your home in person and increasing your curb appeal here will also get you around a 100% return on your investment.

Synthetic grass can be costly, but it can also get you a 100% return on your investment.

3. Minor kitchen renovations. Putting in new cabinets, a new backsplash, and new tile are all great ideas. The cost is minimal, but the investment will get you around a 95% return.

4. Exterior home improvements. These include things like redone sidings, patching stucco, painting, and updating the front door or eaves. This will get you around an 87% return on your investment.

These improvements will not only keep your home in great condition and get you a great return, it will help your home sell faster and for a higher price. If you have any questions for me about any of these improvements or anything else relating to the real estate market, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Location: Orange County, CA, USA
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